< English
International Seminar 1991-2000: A Critical Evaluation of the Negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October
1st, 2000
INTRODUCTION In October 1991, a few months after the end of the Gulf War against Iraq, the Arab-Israeli Peace Conference was launched in Madrid. It was described as a starting point for a New Regional Order in the Middle East. Almost ten years after the negotiations between the PLOlater the Palestinian Authority (PA)and the state of Israel, the international community and the public opinion in general has witnessed the formulation and implementation of a peace based on the uneven positions of the parties: the Palestinian side, being under a military occupation and extremely weakened, has had to accept a negotiation framework in which Israel, the occupying power, has imposed its own procedures, rhythms, and criteria under the exclusive supervision of the United States, who has without any doubt defended the Israeli interests. During this month of September the PA and Israel should have reached a final agreement. It becomes necessary to think about the future of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. By the time it is becoming clearer that the new reality imposed on Palestinians can hardly provide a just arrangement that guarantees, on the one hand, the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state according to the historical aspirations of its population and to international legality, and on the other, a durable peace for the peoples of the region. On the contrary, the Oslo Process provisions seem to predict the perpetuation of the Zionist project on Palestine, tightening the grip on the Arab population and their land, and a new escalation of violence and suffering in the Middle East. The Palestinian peoples have demanded and still demand international support and solidarity so that their legitimate rights and their causethe cause of justice and dignity for all peopleswill not be forgotten under the illusion of a fake peace. This is the main goal of this International Seminar; to make an evaluation of the major events that took place over the past ten years based on well-informed sources and the analyses provided by experts in order to renew the commitment and solidarity existing in our country towards Palestinians. Those of us who have been working for the promotion of
the Arab people's future, in general, and Palestinian's, in particular,
highly appreciate the total and generous support received from the Autónoma
University in Madrid and its Rector, as well as from many of its departments
and students' associations. We are delighted with this fruitful collaboration
that confirms how the academic commitmentconsidering the outstanding
and prestigious participants in this Seminar can contribute to the
solidarity among peoples. Arab Cause Solidarity Committee |
English |
Programme of the International Seminar 1991-2000: THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS A critical evaluation of the negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel (Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st, 2000)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th 10:00-10:25. OPENING SESSION: Welcome from the Arab Cause Solidarity Committee; interventions of Madrid's Autónoma University Rector, his Excellency Dr. Raúl Villar, and Heads of the Arab and Islamic Studies and Political Science Departments of Madrid's Autónoma University (UAM). Reading of support messages from Dr. Haider 'Abdel Shafi (president of the Palestinian Delegation in Madrid Conference, 1991, and ex member of the PLC) and Dr. Edward Sa'id, (Columbia University). 10:30-11:30. 1st SESSION: The missing international legal reference for the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Introduce by Javier Sádaba, Professor of Ethics (UAM).
11:30-12:00: Discussion 12:00-12:30: COFFEE BREAK. 12:30-14:00. 2nd SESSION: Development of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiation process: From Oslo I to Sharm al-Sheij. Designing the future Palestinian entity. Introduce by Ignacio Alvarez Osorio, Alicante University and member of the redaction staff of Nación Árabe.
14:00-14:30: Discussion 14:30-16:30: LUNCH 16:30-18:00. 3rd SESSION, 1st Part: What future for Palestine? The strategic questions of the Final Status negotiation. The project of a democratic Palestine. Introduction by Isaías Barreñada, research and member of the redaction staff of Nación Árabe.
18:00-18:15: BREAK 18:15-19:15. 3rd SESSION, 2nd Part: What future for Palestine? The strategic questions of the Final Status negotiation.
19:15-19:45. Discussion SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st. 10:30-12:00. 4th SESSION: Palestine in the Middle East: the New Regional Order and the Arab-Israeli normalisation in the context of international political, economic and military hegemony of US. Introduction by Iñaki Álvarez de Terán (UAM, and member of redaction staff of Nación Árabe).
12:00-12:30. Discussion 12:30-13:00. BREAK 13:00-14:00. CLOSURE SESION: A Palestinian
homeland for the Palestinians. Introduction by Luz Gómez García
(Professor of Arab Literature, Unversity of Alicante and member of the redaction
staff of Nación Árabe). |
